N.J. Gov. Christie pushes for property-tax cap at Hoboken town hall meeting - May 17, 2010, 2:26PM

New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christie unveiled his proposal to put a constitutional, not statutory cap, on property tax increases to a Hoboken audience on Monday, in the first of a series of town hall meetings throughout the state.

In front of a “Cap 2.5 reform” banner on a stage in the Hoboken Catholic Academy auditorium/gymnasium, Christie explained his 33 bills to cap state spending to reduce property taxes, and argued in favor of collective bargaining reform.

Local mayors throughout New Jersey have 44 days to decide whether towns or the state would have authority if a 2.5 percent cap were to be put in place. The state property tax has been raised by nearly 80 percent in the past decade, Christie said, and discretionary state spending must be enacted to prevent state government to grow bigger than municipal government. Read entire article...

Ask the HOA Expert

by Richard Thompson

Question: Our board recently presented the coming year's budget at the annual meeting. A number of members said the increase was too high for them and that they couldn't afford it. A couple of others chimed in with the same tune. The board president reacted by caving in. Without first consulting with the rest of the board, he stated the proposed increase would be reduced by half! Now we don't have enough money to properly fund operating and reserves. How can this have been avoided?

Answer:There are several ways this could have been handled differently. Other board members could have challenged the president for promising something beyond his authority (like reducing the budget). This would have been embarrassing but not out of line considering the consequences of his unilateral action. Read entire article...

JERSEY CITY-WIDE BOIL WATER ADVISORY STILL IN EFFECT - 8:30AM, 4.1.10

United Water

PLEASE CALL (800) 575-4433 OR VISIT

Click for more information...

AREAS OF JERSEY CITY MAY HAVE NO WATER OR LOW WATER PRESSURE - 3.31.10

United Water

ARREAS OF JERSEY MAY BE EXPERIENCING NO WATER OR LOW WATER PRESSURE. PLEASE CALL (800) 575-4433 OR VISIT

Click for more information...

FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON...

Accuweather

THE FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES FOR

* PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT...NORTHEAST NEW JERSEY AND SOUTHEAST NEW YORK...INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS...IN SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT...NORTHERN FAIRFIELD...NORTHERN NEW HAVEN...SOUTHERN FAIRFIELD AND SOUTHERN NEW HAVEN. IN NORTHEAST NEW JERSEY...BERGEN...EASTERN PASSAIC...ESSEX... HUDSON...UNION AND WESTERN PASSAIC. IN SOUTHEAST NEW YORK... BRONX...KINGS (BROOKLYN)...NASSAU...NEW YORK (MANHATTAN)... NORTHERN WESTCHESTER...ORANGE...PUTNAM...QUEENS...RICHMOND (STATEN ISLAND)...ROCKLAND AND SOUTHERN WESTCHESTER.

* FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON

* RAIN WILL BEGIN TONIGHT...AND COULD BECOME HEAVY AT TIMES AFTER MIDNIGHT. HEAVY RAIN SHOULD THEN CONTINUE INTO MUCH OF MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT. THE RAIN WILL GRADUALLY TAPER OFF TUESDAY INTO TUESDAY NIGHT. THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR 3 TO 5 INCHES OF RAIN THROUGH TUESDAY AFTERNOON...WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE.

Read entire article...

Ask the HOA Expert

by Richard Thompson

Question: Our state statute states: "Unless otherwise provided in the governing documents, the homeowners association board of directors shall adopt and amend budgets for reserves in an amount adequate to repair and replace major capital items in the normal course of operations without the necessity of special assessments, provided that the amount set aside annually for reserves shall not be less than 10% of the budget for that year." What does "adequate" mean?

Answer:If a special assessment is required to pay for reserve repairs or replacements, the board has not been reserving adequately and can be held responsible for the shortfall unless the members refused to approve (if their approval was required) annual budgets adequate to fund reserves. In other words, the board cannot be held accountable for something under the control of the members. Read entire article...

12" to 18" of snow expected Thurs 2.25 into Fri 2.26 for Hudson County

by Accuweather

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN UPTON HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM THURSDAY TO 6 PM EST FRIDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. SNOW IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP AROUND THE START OF RUSH HOUR THURSDAY MORNING THEN CONTINUE THROUGH FRIDAY. CURRENTLY EXPECT THE STEADIEST AND HEAVIEST SNOW TO FALL FROM MID MORNING THURSDAY THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING. THE SNOW WILL THEN GRADUALLY BECOME LESS STEADY AND LIGHTER INTO FRIDAY...BEFORE TAPERING OFF TO LIGHT SNOW OR SNOW SHOWERS BY FRIDAY EVENING. Read entire article...

Real Estate Outlook: Increase in Housing Starts - 2.23.10

by Kenneth R. Harney

When you get reports of increases in both new housing starts and existing home and condo sales in a single week, that's got to say something positive about where real estate is headed. Last week the US Commerce Department announced that new home starts, which have been lackluster for most of the housing downcycle -- rose in January to their highest level in half a year. Read entire article...

Market Conditions - 2.23.10

by Realtytimes.com

Market conditions for residential remodeling tumbled downward during the fourth quarter of 2009, according to the latest National Association of Home Builders' (NAHB) Remodeling Market Index (RMI). The current market conditions index fell to 36.4 from 39.8 in the third quarter. The index of future indicators dropped to 31.4 from 38.7 in the previous quarter. The RMI measures remodeler perceptions of market demand for current and future residential remodeling projects. Any number below 50 indicates that more remodelers say market conditions are getting worse than report improving conditions. The RMI has been running below 50 since the final quarter of 2005. Read entire article...

Real Estate Outlook: National PMI Index - 2.15.10

by Kenneth R. Harney

One of the most accurate forecasters of housing value movements has just signaled something potentially important: For the first time in a year, according to the national PMI index, “overall risk has decreased” in the 384 metropolitan markets covered by the survey. The PMI risk index is produced quarterly by private mortgage insurance giant, PMI Group. It examines local employment, household income, economic growth, demographic changes and other factors to predict where home values are headed in these market areas. Read entire article...

JERSEY CITY NEWPORT AREA CUSTOMERS MAY HAVE NO WATER, LOW WATER PRESSURE

By United Water - 2.3.10, 8AM

United Water customers in the Newport area of Jersey City may have no water or low water pressure as the result of a 30-inch water main leak. United Water emergency crews are working to repair the main, which is located at Washington Blvd in Jersey City between 14th Street and Luis Munoz Marin Blvd. The company expects that the repairs will be completed by late afternoon and that normal water pressures will be restored. Click more updates

Crews working to repair water main that broke in Jersey City waterfront area

By Michaelangelo Conte/The Jersey Journal - 1.28.10, 1:50PM

Crews are digging in the area of this morning's Jersey City water main break in an effort to determine whether the failed pipe is a 38-inch main or a 12-inch pipe, Fire Director Armando Roman told The Jersey Journal. If it is the smaller pipe, an offshot of the larger one, only water to the Target in Newport will have to be shut down while repairs are made over the next 24 hours, Roman said. If it is the large pipe, as originally thought, it will have to be shut down and many residents in Newport and other areas Downtown will have low pressure or no water as repairs are made over the next 24 hours. Roman expects to provide another update shortly. Read the entire article...

Newport residents in Jersey City are asked to conserve water after main break

By The Jersey Journal

Residents in the Newport neighborhood of Jersey City are being asked to conserve water today after a water main break earlier this morning, Police Lt. Edgar Martinez told The Jersey Journal. Despite earlier reports, residents will have water, he said, but the pressure will be about 45 percent. The 35-inch main broke on 18th Street, affecting the area from Jersey Avenue to the waterfront and Greene Street, Martinez said. Newport and the Newport Mall have minimal pressure, he said Read the entire article...

Washington Report: FHA Tightening Standards

by Kenneth R. Harney

FHA is tightening up its standards for home buyers - but the changes are not as tough as some analysts had feared - especially on downpayments. FHA commissioner David Stevens outlined the agency's new underwriting policies last week, including an increase in the "upfront" mortgage insurance premium charged all borrowers, and a decrease in the amount of financial inducements a home seller can provide a buyer. Read the entire article...

Blackout affected 1,500 residents Downtown Jersey City

By Melissa Hayes/The Jersey Journal

January 22, 2010, 8:30PM Some 1,500 Jersey City residents were in the dark earlier tonight during a power outage before service was restored at around 6 p.m., said Claude Sikavi, a spokesman for PSE&G. Google MapsA power outage centered at 275 Newark Ave. in Jersey City left approximately 1,500 residents in the dark. The outage...Read the entire article...

Ask the HOA Expert: HOA/COA Rental Restrictions, Minutes, etc...

By Richard Thompson - Realtytimes.com

Question: Our members approved a Rental Restriction Policy at the most recent annual meeting which grandfathered existing rentals. Should this policy be put in the recorded bylaws? If a unit is occupied by an owner's relative, is the unit classified as a rental or as owner occupied?

Answer: Since the ability to rent one's property is considered a basic right, informing prospective buyers of the policy through recorded bylaws is essential. A Rental Restriction Policy is considered a major change in ownership rights and should always be handled as an amendment to the bylaws. As such, the appropriate number of members (as defined by the governing documents) must vote to approve the policy. The appropriate number may be a super majority (more than two thirds) or even 100% of all members, Read the entire article...

Former Jersey City deputy mayor to be tried on corruption charges - 1.20.10

By Melissa Hayes/The Jersey Journal

View full sizeReena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey JournalFormer Jersey City deputy mayor Leona Beldini arrives at federal court in Newark this afternoon with her lawyer, Brian Neary. U.S. District Judge Jose L. Linares dismissed several motions made by Beldini's attorney Brian Neary in an attempt to have the case dismissed. She is the first defendant charged in the massive July 23 political corruption and international money laundering sting to go to trial. Read the entire article...

HOA Newsletter Baker's Dozen - 12.23.09

By Richard Thompson - Realtytimes.com

Unless your homeowners association transacts all its business town meeting style, a newsletter is essential to keep the members informed. Almost all HOA should produce a newsletter at least four times a year. There are "tricks of the trade" to increase its effectiveness and readability. Here's a "baker's dozen":

1. Keep Articles Short. Get to the point. Headings and bullet points grab readers' eyes as they scan. Put important information in boxes.

2. Include Good Stories. Newsletters can be much more than information. Profile your board committee members. Include a Newcomers section. Promote events. Include a Q&A section (even if you make up the question). Read the entire article...

Real Estate Outlook: Economic Forecasting - 12.22.09

By Kenneth R. Harney - Realtytimes.com

When it comes to economic forecasting, there's nobody as authoritative as the Federal Reserve's Open Market Committee. And here's what the committee said last week in a nutshell: We see significant progress in the economic recovery underway, the labor market is still weak but showing signs of cutting losses, and we're going to keep interest rates at near-record lows to encourage growth during 2010. Read the entire article...

Bad wiring is blamed for Sunday fire in Jersey City buildings - 12.22.09

By Michaelangelo Conte/The Jersey Journal

Joe Shine photoJersey City weekend fire on Beacon Avenue in Heights engulfed five buildings and has displaced dozens of families. The three-alarm fire that left several families homeless after ripping through four Jersey City Heights buildings this weekend has been deemed accidental and was likely started by electrical wires, officials said. Arson investigators have determined the blaze that engulfed 126, 128, 130, and 132 Beacon Ave. early Sunday was caused by faulty wiring between the second and third floors of 130 Beacon, Fire Department Director Armando Roman said yesterday Read the entire article...

Paralyzing Nor'easter Expected for New Jersey Saturday - 12.19.09

By ,Accuweather.com - 12.19.09

Make no mistake, folks. If you live anywhere from Virginia to southern New England, you are staring right down the barrel of a major snowstorm. This will be one of those classic nor'easters that can dump an inch or more of snow per hour. The belt of heaviest snow, and absolute worst travel conditions, will extend from Virginia through northeastern Maryland and New Jersey to southeastern New England. This includes the major cities of Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Boston. Basically, the whole I-95 corridor is going to turn into a real nightmare for highway travelers. Read the entire article...

United Water asks state for $9.75-per-month rate increase

By Ron Zeitlinger/The Jersey Journal - 12.9.09

File photoThe typical United Water bill would increase by nearly $10 a month if the company's rate increase request is approved. Most Hudson County United Water customers will be paying about $10 more per month if the company's request for a rate increase is approved by the state Board of Public Utilities. Read the entire article...

Ask the HOA Expert - 12.2.09

by Richard Thompson - Realty Times

Question: I manage a large unit condominium complex. Several years ago, the board tried to pass a rental restriction and did not get the member votes needed. Now, in light of the foreclosure crisis, investors are buying foreclosed units and renting them out. We have one homeowner who is in the process of buying his fourth unit. Can an HOA limit the number of units owned by a single entity? And how does this affect our association as a whole?

Answer: Yes, the HOA can limit rentals but it is subject to an appropriate vote of the members as defined by the governing documents which may be a super-majority (2/3 or 3/4) or even unanimous. Of course, the more rentals you have, the tougher it will be to get the vote... Read the entire article...

Banning HOA Rentals - 11.25.09

by Richard Thompson - Realty Times

In some homeowner associations, the number of owners who rent their units is extraordinarily high, sometimes even outnumbering resident owners. With absentee owners and just a few irresponsible renters, there may be a move by the board to limit or eliminate rentals altogether. What things should be considered? When it comes to sorting out rental restrictions, there is a hierarchy of "legal authority." 1. The highest legal authority is the state’s corporation, condominium and homeowner association statutes. Statutes vary from state to state. 2. The second highest legal authority is the association Declaration which is recorded in the county where the association is located... Read the entire article...

Investor Report: HUD's Condo Rules - 11.20.09

by Kenneth R. Harney - Realty Times

HUD just changed its condominium rules again, and there's both good news and sobering news for investors and developers tucked away in the revisions. On the one hand, HUD relaxed its previously controversial requirement that at least fifty percent of the units in a project be sold before FHA could insure loans for new buyers on individual units. Under the amended rule, FHA financing will be available in projects where at least 30 percent of the existing units have been sold. Read the entire article...

Low Interest Rates Spur Refinancing, Buying Interest - 11.19.09

by Broderick Perkins - Realty Times

If you purchased a home a year ago and have the equity and creditworthiness to swing it, a refinance today could save you hundreds of dollars a month. Or, if you are in the market to buy a home, interest rates will make for a more affordable deal. Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey for Nov. 12 put the average fixed interest rate for 30-year conforming mortgages at 4.91 percent. Last year at the same time, the 30-year fixed rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.14 percent. Read the entire article...

Building Ordinance or Law Insurance - 11.18.09

by Richard Thompson - Realty Times

Insurance policies are written based on the concept of "indemnity" which means "protection or security against damage or loss." Fire insurance policies are not designed to put a policyholder in a better position than he was prior to a loss. Otherwise, having insurance might create an incentive to have a loss. To prevent a policyholder from unfair compensation whenever a covered loss occurs, most insurance contracts are written so that the insurance carrier's only responsibility is to return the building to the condition it was prior to the loss. This is true even if an older, out-of-code building is damaged. Building code updates are not covered under the standard fire insurance policy. Read the entire article...

Real Estate Outlook: Moving Towards Recovery - 11.17.09

by Kenneth R. Harney

The huge impact of the federal home buyer tax credit program, which is now set to continue and even expand through next spring, dominates the housing resale numbers this week. Sales of existing houses during the third quarter jumped by 11.4 percent over second quarter sales, according to the National Association of Realtors. And the increase in sales came in pretty much every part of the country -- in 45 states along with the District of Columbia. Read the entire article...

Jersey City Heights' star is on the rise

By Melissa Hayes/The Jersey Journal - 11.10.09

The wave of gentrification that leapfrogged the Hudson a few years back has reached new heights - Jersey City Heights, to be exact. When banker Yvonne Thevenot saw her family's future home in Jersey City Heights five years ago, the house and the friendly neighbors immediately won her over. "We just saw ourselves there," said Thevenot, 39, who lives in the Ogden Ave. home with her husband and 5-year-old son. "It has a great view of Manhattan, and there's a lot of space for us." The Thevenots are part of a wave of young urban professionals sweeping into the Heights, a historically working- and middle-class neighborhood perched on the Palisades just west of Hoboken, once the hot across-the-river destination for folks priced out of the West Side and Brownstone Brooklyn. Read the entire article...

Jersey City Council approves $12.4M park purchase

By Melissa Hayes/The Jersey Journal - 11.10.09

A conceptual drawing shows the proposed park at the former PJP Landfill. The Jersey City Council approved purchasing the site for $12.4 million tonight.A former landfill is one step closer to becoming a public park. The Jersey City Council approved purchasing 34.52 acres of the former PJP Landfill for $12.4 million tonight. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is contributing $4 million toward the acquisition and Hudson County gave $1 million. The City Council authorized bonding up to $8.7 million for the remainder, if grants are unavailable Read the entire article...

30-Year Fixed Rate Falls Below 5 Percent

By Realty Times - 11.06.09

McLean, VA – Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.98 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending November 5, 2009, down from last week when it averaged 5.03 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.20 percent. The 15-year FRM this week averaged 4.40 percent with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 4.46 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 5.88 percent. Read the entire article...

Real Estate: Market Conditions - Realty Times...

By Realty Times - 11.06.09

The National Association of Home Builders is reporting that the sale of newly built, single-family homes fell 3.6 percent in September. "This critical loss of momentum corresponds with the ending of the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit, since for the most part, September was too late to sign a deal that could be completed by the time the credit expires at the end of November," said Joe Robson, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder from Tulsa, Okla. On a regional basis, new-home sales were down 10 percent in the South, which is the nation's largest housing market, and were down 10.6 percent in the West. The sales rate did not change in the Northeast in September, but gained 34 percent in the Midwest due to last-minute deals sparked by the tax credit. Read the entire article...

Jersey City water and sewer bills are increasing 24 percent starting Jan. 1.

By Melissa Hayes/The Jersey Journal - 11.04.09

Jersey City sewer bills increasing 24 percent For nearly 60 percent of the Jersey City Municipal Utility Authority's 35,000 metered customers that translates into a $144 annual increase. "When Brett Schundler was mayor, he rolled back the rates and we've been playing catch-up ever since," MUA Executive Director Daniel Becht said. "Eventually it's going to come to hand you and unfortunately it has come back to haunt us." Read the entire article...

Political Insider: Dawn Zimmer rolls over the opposition

By The Jersey Journal - 11.04.09

Dawn Zimmer greeted by one of her "Green Shirts" after winning the Hoboken mayoral election at her campaign headquarters tonight. Hoboken's first elected woman mayor destroyed her rivals on the way to winning the office yesterday. The Political Insider notes that Dawn Zimmer now has until 2013 to apply her way of governing the city Read the entire article...

Republican Chris Christie defeats Gov. Jon Corzine

By The Associated Press - 11.03.09

Star-Ledger photoNew Jersey Republican candidate Chris Christie defeats Gov. Jon Corzine today. Christie is followed by his 6- year-old daughter, Bridget, left, and his 9-year-old son, Patrick, as they exit a voting booth at the Brookside Fire House in Mendham. Republican Chris Christie has defeated Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine in New Jersey. With 71 percent of precincts reporting Tuesday night, Christie had 50 percent of the vote to Corzine's 44 percent Read the entire article...

Real Estate Outlook: Case-Shiller Index

by Kenneth R. Harney - 11.03.09

If you look at the latest Case-Shiller home price index numbers, which showed prices up in seventeen of the twenty markets it tracks and the fourth straight month of gains, you'd have to say: wow, how things have changed! Even the gloomiest of the major indexes is now documenting month after month that housing not only bottomed out earlier this year, but is steadily racking up price gains. Read the entire article...

Jersey City Council approves financial incentives, rent hikes, police dogs

By Melissa Hayes/The Jersey Journal - 10.29.09

The City Council approved $6 million in incentives for a Wall Street financial firm moving to Jersey City during its meeting Wednesday night. The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation is moving 1,600 employees to 570 Washington Blvd. after the city, county and state offered the financial firm more than $90 million in incentives. The council is allocating $5 million of the city's $9.73 million in Recovery Zone Facility Bonds to DTCC. The tax-exempt bonds were allocated under the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Council also signed off on a $1 million grant from the Urban Enterprise Zone, which will be given in installments over four years once the company moves in 2013. Read the entire article...

Rent on low-income housing may increase to help support landlords

By The Jersey Journal - 10.28.09

Rent for almost 140 low-income Jersey City families may increase because low-income landlords aren't making enough to efficiently maintain their properties. Darice Toon, director of the city's Division of Community Development, said the duplexes are owned by low-income families who qualify for affordable housing and rent the other unit to a low-income individual or family. She said in some cases the rents are so low it burdens the homeowner. Read the entire article...

Time is Running Out for First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit

by Realty Times

Existing-home sales bounced back strongly in September with first-time buyers driving much of the activity, marking five gains in the past six months, according to the National Association of Realtors®. Existing-home sales – including single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops – jumped 9.4 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.57 million units in September from a level of 5.09 million in August, and are 9.2 percent higher than the 5.10 million-unit pace in September 2008. Sales activity is at the highest level in over two years, since it hit 5.73 million in July 2007. Read the entire article...

Time is Running Out for First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit

by Bob Hunt - Realty Times

The clock is ticking. Time is running out. To be exact, time runs out midnight, November 30, 2009. Many readers will know what I am referring to. Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, November 30 is the last day for a home purchased by a first-time home buyer to qualify for the $8,000 tax credit. The purchase must be closed and title transferred by that date. It will not be sufficient simply to be under contract or in escrow. By way of a brief refresher: Read the entire article...

Washington Report: GFEs - NEW HUD-1 RULES TO TAKE EFFECT JANUARY 1st

by Kenneth R. Harney - Realty Times

It was mortgage lender against mortgage lender last week in an unusual Washington brouhaha -- with new FHA Commissioner David Stevens as the referee. The fight was over whether the new, consumer-friendly Good Faith Estimates (or GFEs) and HUD-1 closing disclosures given to all home real estate and mortgage participants will take effect as scheduled less than six weeks from now Read the entire article...

BERGEN AVENUE CUSTOMERS MAY NOT HAVE WATER

Jersey City , NJ, Oct 23, 2009 - Click here for updates

United Water Jersey City customers on the east side of Bergen Avenue will temporarily be without water due to a broken 20-inch water main. This impacts customers residing between Fairmont and Belmont avenues). United Water emergency crews are on the scene and working to restore service as quickly as possible. Repairs are expected to be completed this evening. Read the entire article...

National Average Long-Term Mortgage Rate Rises to 5 Percent

By Realty Times - 10.23.09

McLean, VA – Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 5.00 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending October 22, 2009, up from last week when it averaged 4.92 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.04 percent. The 15-year FRM this week averaged 4.43 percent with an average 0.6 point, up from last week when it averaged 4.37 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 5.72 percent. Read the entire article...

Is Your Home Wired Properly?

By Phoebe Chongchua - Realty Times - 10.23.09

We all know that as things age, they often need replacing but sometimes homeowners neglect to take care of their home's electrical wiring and that can set them up for potential danger. Electrical consumption since the middle of the last century has increased in most homes on average about 400 percent. If you're tripping your main safety circuit box that could be a sign that you're overloading the electrical outlets and an indication that an electrical contractor should examine your wiring. Oftentimes, homes are renovated several times without any electrical wiring updated. Yet, this is a part of the house that can cause huge problems if it isn't kept up-to-date. Read the entire article...

Magazine names Jersey City top place to raise a family

By Melissa Hayes/The Jersey Journal - 10.22.09

Children's Health magazine has named Jersey City the 13th best place to raise children.Thirteen appears to be Jersey City's lucky number. Children's Health magazine, published by Rodale, named Jersey City the 13th best place to raise a family. The magazine released a top 100 list of municipalities across the nation. The only other city in New Jersey to make the list was Newark, who ranked 46th. Burlington, Vt. topped this year's list Read the entire article...

Collecting HOA Delinquencies...

By Richard Thompson - Realty Times

There are few things more basic to a homeowners association than the fees it takes to keep the place running. When one or more owners default in the payment of fees, the impact is felt by all. And the longer the delinquency, the deeper the cut. It is a situation that many boards dread because of having to deal with neighbors. Here are a number of ways to reduce the impact of, cure or avoid collection problems in your community: Establish a collection policy with teeth. While this sounds simple enough, many HOAs have nothing more in place than the often inadequate provisions of the governing documents. The collection policy needs to be clear and concise. Some of the basic provisions should include: Read the entire article...

Latest N.J. governor's race poll has Corzine, Christie neck-and-neck with Daggett gaining...

By The Associated Press - 10.22.09

A poll released today found Gov. Jon Corzine and Republican challenger Chris Christie running nearly even in the New Jersey governor's race. The Rutgers-Eagleton Poll showed 39 percent of likely voters supporting Corzine, 36 percent for Christie and 20 percent for independent Chris Daggett. Read the entire article...

Solomon Dwek, key witness in FBI's N.J. corruption probe, admits role in real estate scam...

By MaryAnn Spoto/The Star-Ledger - 10.20.09

FREEHOLD -- For the second time today, failed real estate developer Solomon Dwek stood before a judge and admitted to participating in a complex real estate fraud that ultimately led to a massive state and federal corruption and money laundering sting. After pleading guilty in federal court in Newark to bank fraud, Dwek pleaded guilty in state Superior Court in Monmouth County to one count of misconduct by a corporate official. Specifically, he admitted he obtained a $10 million loan to buy property in Manhattan but used that money instead to pay off nine people who were not related to that real estate deal Read the entire article...

The importance of Renters Insurance...

By LandlordOnline.com - 10.17.09

Renters insurance can be of benefit to landlords. Accordingly, landlords should encourage tenants to have renters insurance and, if allowed by their state’s law, should consider making renters insurance mandatory for all their units. One estimate is that less than a quarter of renters have renters' insurance. Many residential tenants do not realize that they must purchase their own insurance to cover damage to their rental property resulting from risks such as fire, vandalism, and theft. Many also do not understand that they will be potentially liable for injuries to visitors to their rental properties or for damages to the property of others, including the landlord’s property, resulting from negligence of the tenant or of the tenant’s guests. Many mistakenly think that the landlord’s insurance will protect them regarding these matters. Read the entire article...

Healy, City Council deny tax abatements for 77 Hudson condos

By The Jersey Journal - 10.15.09

The Jersey City City Council has backed Mayor Jeremiah T. Healy and his stance against 77 Hudson's tax abatement proposal. 77 Hudson, a luxury high-rise, will not get the same deal that it's rival Crystal Point will get. "What has happened is Crystal Point is a favored developer," said Eugene Paolino, an attorney for developer K. Hovnanian. "There's a bias now that has been given to the developer of Crystal Point that has not been given to 77 Hudson." Read the entire article...

Manzo brothers face arraignment in federal court

By Michaelangelo Conte/The Jersey Journal - 10.14.09

Former state assemblyman and failed Jersey City mayoral candidate Louis Manzo will be arraigned on federal corruption charges in Newark tomorrow along with his brother and political adviser, Ronald Manzo, officials said tonight. The brothers allegedly accepted $27,500 in bribes and are charged with conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right, three counts of attempted extortion, and two counts of travel in interstate commerce to promote and facilitate bribery. Read the entire article...

Two mayoral forums for Hoboken candidates are scheduled, the first is tomorrow

By The Jersey Journal - 10.13.09

Hoboken Mayoral candidate Patricia Waiters will take on six other candidates in Nov. 3 election.Hoboken's mayoral candidates will face off tomorrow in a forum sponsored by People for Open Government, Our Lady of Grace/St. Joseph, The Church at Hoboken, and the Hoboken Quality of Life Coalition. The forum will take place at the Our Lady of Grace School hall, at Willow Avenue at Fifth Street, 7 to 9 p.m Two weeks later, the Stevens Political Awareness Committee is hosting a mayoral candidate forum on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 5 to 7 p.m., on campus at Burchard Hall, located at the corner of Sixth Street and River Terrace, in Room 118. Both events are free Read the entire article...

Mayor Jerramiah Healy's pick, David Donnelly, likely to get Ward B seat

By The Jersey Journal - 10.12.09

Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy's special assistant could join the City Council Wednesday night. Healy has endorsed David Donnelly, special assistant to the mayor, to fill the unexpired term of Ward B Councilman Phil Kenny, who pleaded guilty last week to accepting $5,000 in bribes from an FBI informant. If appointed, Donnelly, 39, would follow in the footsteps of his mother Mary Donnelly, who served as Ward B councilwoman from 1997 to 2005 Read the entire article...

Long-Term Mortgage Rates Ease Further This Week

By Realty Times - 10.9.09

McLean, VA – Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.87 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending October 8, 2009, down from last week when it averaged 4.94 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.94 percent. The last time the 30-year FRM was lower was the week ending May 21, 2009, when it averaged 4.82 percent. The 15-year FRM this week averaged 4.33 percent with an average 0.7 point, down from last week when it averaged 4.36 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 5.63 percent. This is the lowest the 15-year FRM has been since Freddie Mac started tracking it in 1991. Read the entire article...

Jersey City city housing advocate pleads guilty to taking bribes in FBI corruption sting

By Joe Ryan/The Star-Ledger - 10.8.09

JERSEY CITY -- A Jersey City housing advocate who ran unsuccessfully for the city council pleaded guilty today to taking bribes from the FBI informant at the center of last summer’s corruption sting. LaVern Webb-Washington, 61, told a federal judge in Newark she accepted $15,000 from the informant who posed as a corrupt real estate developer. In exchange, Webb-Washington said she promised that if elected she would help secure zoning approvals for a luxury condominium building. Read the entire article...

Former candidate Webb-Washington, charged in corruption sting, appears in court

By Ron Zeitlinger/The Jersey Journal - 10.8.09

Former City Council candidate LaVern Webb-Washington, charged in the massive corruption sting in July, is making an appearance in federal court in Newark right now, Jersey Journal reporter Michaelangelo Conte reports from the courthouse. Webb-Washington made an unsuccessful run for the Ward F City Council seat, which was won by incumbent Viola Richardson. In July, Webb-Washington was charged with conspiracy to commit extortion under color of officials right. She is accused of accepting $15,000 for her campaign in three installments of $5,000. Read the entire article...

Under corruption cloud, Jersey City Councilman Mariano Vega steps down as president -- 'temporarily'

By The Jersey Journal - 10.6.09

Jersey City City Council President Mariano Vega, one of the 44 people arrested in the massive New Jersey corruption scandal over the summer, submitted a "temporary'' letter of resignation this afternoon, effective at 4 p.m. Friday. Jersey City City Council President Mariano Vega, one of the 44 people arrested in July as part of the massive New Jersey corruption scandal, submitted a "temporary'' letter of resignation as head of the council to the City Clerk this afternoon. He remains on the council in his at-large seat, City Clerk Robert Byrne confirmed. Read the entire article...

Jersey City Councilman Phil Kenny pleads guilty in massive NJ corruption case

By Michaelangelo Conte/The Jersey Journal - 10.6.09

Journal file photoJersey City Councilman Phil Kenny pleaded guilty today in the massive New Jersey corruption case. Jersey City Councilman Philip J. Kenny pleaded guilty in federal court in Newark this afternoon to accepting $,5000 in bribes as part of the massive New Jersey corruption case that broke over the summer. Kenny, who represents the city's West Side, Ward B, hadn't been charged in the original roundup of suspects. Read the entire article...

Real Estate Outlook: Sales Stats and Rates

by Kenneth R. Harney

We've got a bumper crop of positives this week for housing, starting with pending home sales, which jumped by 6.4 percent in August. That was the seventh straight month of increases in the National Association of Realtors' forward-looking index -- the longest streak since 2001. The pending sales index measures signed contracts heading for closing, and is an important indicator of where the real estate market is headed in the coming couple of months. Read the entire article...

Getting a return on that deposit...Security Deposit Act

By Donna Rolando - 10.04.09

"If the landlord doesn't return the deposit, the tenant may be entitled to sue for double" the amount that's owed, Arone said. They may also get reimbursed for attorney fees. All along, the landlord should have been holding the security deposit in an interest-bearing account and making payments to the tenant on the interest gained. According to "Truth in Renting," a publication provided of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, a landlord may also sue if damages exceed the security deposit. Read the entire article...

Too Many Towns Equals High Property Taxes

By GlobeSt.com - 9.30.09

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ-Recent studies by the Tax Foundation ranked New Jersey first in two categories residents and companies probably wished it did not: highest median property taxes and the least business-friendly tax structure in the US.
According to the Washington, DC-based nonprofit organization, New Jersey took the top spot for median real estate taxes paid in 2008: $6,320, well ahead of the second-ranking state, Connecticut at $4,603. Further, based on a median homeowner income of approximately $90,000, New Jerseyans plunk 7% of their paychecks toward property taxes, again, tops in the nation. Read the entire article...

Drawings to determine ballot positions for Hoboken mayor and Bayonne council seat today

By The Jersey Journal - 9.28.09

Today at 3 p.m., the Hudson County Clerk's Office will hold drawings to determine Nov. 3 ballot positions for the seven candidates running for mayor of Hoboken and the six candidates vying to fill Anthony Chiappone's former council seat in Bayonne, according to today's Jersey Journal. The Hudson County Clerk's Office is located on the fourth floor of Hudson County Plaza, 257 Cornelison Ave. Read the entire article...

Power outage in parts of Downtown Jersey City

By Charles Hack/The Jersey Journal - September 27, 2009, 1:58PM

Several high-rise buildings on the Jersey City waterfront are without power due to a cable failure that occurred at 7 a.m., a PSE&G spokeswoman said today. The spokeswoman said the problem is being investigated and couldn't say when the power would be restored or how many customers are affected. Read the entire article...

Jersey City's Jimmy King pleads guilty to corruption, faces 10-16 months in prison

By Michaelangelo Conte/The Jersey Journal September 24, 2009, 1:37PM

Former Jersey City council candidate James "Jimmy" King pleaded guilty to corruption charges this afternoon in federal court in Newark.Unsuccessful Jersey City City Council candidate James "Jimmy'' King faced a federal judge in Newark this afternoon and admitted he took $5,000 to $10,000 in bribes in exchange for his future official assistance of development projects proposed by a man who turned out to be a federal informant. By pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right, the 67-year-old King is expected to be sent to prison for 10 to 16 months when he is sentenced on Jan. 5. Read the entire article...

Unsuccessful Jersey City council candidate Jimmy King expected to plead guilty in massive corruption sweep

By Charles Hack - September 24, 2009, 11:14AM

Jersey Journal file photoUnsuccessful Jersey City City Council candidate and popular civic association leader James "Jimmy'' King is expected to plead guilty this afternoon in the massive New Jersey corruption scandal. Unsuccessful Jersey City City Council candidate and popular civic association leader James "Jimmy'' King is expected to plead guilty this afternoon to charges in the massive New Jersey corruption scandal. King. who is also a former Hudson County undersheriff, was accused in the sting of accepting two illegal $5,000 payments from a government informant for his May campaign. Read the entire article...

Officials checking Sinatra Park after piece of pier collapsed

By Jamie Schuh / The Jersey Journal - 9.24.09

Hoboken - Sinatra Park will remain closed to activities and events until engineers can establish it's structural integrity. City officials announced yesterday they are taking "emergency measures" to secure and stop any further erosion of Sinatra Park after a portion collapsed into the Hudson River on Monday, according to today's Jersey Journal. "The public's safety is the greatest concern and we have closed off the affected areas while our engineers study the situation," said acting Mayor Dawn Zimmer. Read the entire article...

HOA Litigation Alternative

by Richard Thompson - Realty Times

While Americans have embraced the aggressive and competitive sport of lawyer-dueling, hiring them to litigate over issues significant or otherwise ... skyrocketing litigation costs have caused many to reexamine the value of lawsuits for problem solving. Nowhere is this more apparent than in homeowner associations (HOAs), where disputes are a regular part of life. If you are a member of an HOA, you know. Pets, parking, renters, late fees, fence violations and an endless list of other issues are fuel for the fires of furious disagreement. Read the entire article...

Tempers flare as Jersey City officials debate tax abatement policy with critic

By Amy Sara Clark/The Jersey Journal September 21, 2009, 10:42PM

According to a New Jersey think tank, Jersey City gives out more tax abatements than anywhere else in the state, robbing the city, county and schools of much needed taxes and unfairly burdening residents of non-abated properties with an unfair financial burden. But administration official, armed with 29 pages of rebuttal, and the Jersey City City Council, got into a hot debate with the report’s co-author, Naomi Mueller Bressler of New Jersey Policy Perspective, at tonight's City Council caucus. Read the entire article...

Ex-elections investigator: I took $15G to make intros between 'developer' and pols

By Ken Thorbourne/The Jersey Journal - 9.20.09

An investigator with the Hudson County Board of Elections pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday to taking corrupt payments to introduce a government informant to public officials and candidates. Denis Jaslow, 46, of Wall, admitted receiving $15,500 from Solomon Dwek, who was posing as a developer as part of a government sting. Read the entire article...

Ex-Jersey City official pleads guilty to taking $70G from fake developer, names other pols

By Amy Sara Clark/The Jersey Journal - 9.20.09

A former Jersey City Housing Authority commissioner pleaded guilty yesterday to federal corruption charges, telling the court that part of his dirty work saw $15,000 in illegal campaign contributions go to Mayor Jerramiah Healy's May re-election campaign. Read the entire article...

Triple-shooting at Jersey City's Pershing Field

By Ken Thorbourne/The Jersey Journal - 9.20.09

Police are investigating a triple shooting in Jersey City's Pershing Field Park after a gunshot victim walked into the North Precinct police station Friday night with blood soaked pants, cops said. Read the entire article...

Man charged, cache of weapons in Hoboken home, cops say

by The Jersey Journal - 9.18.09

A large cache of weapons was found in a home on Garden Street in Hoboken today and a man living there was arrested after brandishing a gun, police said. Garden Street from Sixth Street to Eighth Street has been closed this about 11:15 this morning. Read the entire article...

2 Hudson County officials face 20 years in prison, told to make restitution for $85,500 in corrupt payments

by Charles Hack/The Jersey Journal - 9.18.09

The two Hudson County officials who pleaded guilty this afternoon to their part in a massive New Jersey corruption scandal face 20 years in prison and have been ordered to pay the state a total of $85,500 they received in bribes. Read the entire article...

Former Jersey City housing official pleads guilty, says bribes went to Mayor Healy's campaign

by Charles Hack/The Jersey Journal - 9.18.09

Jersey Journal file photoEdward Cheatam, a former Jersey City housing commissioner, pleaded guilty in federal court today and said bribe money he took went to Mayor Jerramiah Healy's campaign. Former Jersey City Housing Authority Commissioner Edward Cheatam pleaded guilty in federal court today to taking bribes from a government informant and told the court he passed those bribes along to Mayor Jerramiah Healy's campaign. Read the entire article...

Hoboken City Council pulls resolution forcing Zimmer from council seat

by Amy Sara Clark / The Jersey Journal

The Hoboken City Council voted to pull a resolution that would have forced acting Mayor Dawn Zimmer to give up her City Council seat after a city attorney called the motion "inappropriate." "It is the opinion of the legal department that this is an inappropriate motion.,' said Assistant Corporation Council Joe Pojankwski. My advice is that this be taken off the table so the council can move on to business that it does have jurisdiction over." Read the entire article...

NJT to study extending light rail to Hackensack River in Jersey City

by The Jersey Journal

The NJ Transit board of directors approved a $251,000 study this morning to extend the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail line in Jersey City west to the Hackensack River redevelopment area. The line's current western terminus is the West Side Avenue Station. The proposed line would cross Route 440 to reach the riverfront. Read the entire article...

Frank Raia joins race for Hoboken mayor

by Amy Sara Clark / The Jersey Journal

Hoboken - Frank Raia, a developer and former Board of Education trustee, has tossed his hat into the race for Hoboken mayor. He turned in his nominating petitions -- containing 212 signatures, he said -- this afternoon. Read the entire article...

Jersey City building inspector sentenced to 13 months for taking bribes

by Joe Ryan/The Star-Ledger

JERSEY CITY -- A former Jersey City building inspector was sentenced in federal court in Newark today to 13 months in prison for taking bribes. Randolph Condi, 39, pleaded guilty in May to extortion. Standing before U.S. District Judge Stanley R. Chesler today, he apologized for his crime and said financial stress prompted him to take cash in exchange for expediting inspections.Read the entire article...

Jersey City fires Guy Catrillo and Maher Khalil, who pleaded guilty to accepting bribes

by Amy Sara Clark / The Jersey Journal

Two Jersey City officials who pleaded guilty yesterday to accepting tens of thousands of dollars in bribes are going to be fired today by Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy. "Maher Khalil and Guy Catrillo will be terminated from their employment with the City of Jersey City having entered a guilty plea in federal court, effective the date of their guilty plea," he said in a written statement. "We will make no further comment on the matter as this is an ongoing federal investigation."Read the entire article...

Real Estate Outlook: Market Indicators

by Kenneth R. Harney

Name just about any housing market or economic indicator you can think of, and the odds are good that last week it was much better than the preceding week or month. Read the entire article...

Acting Mayor Zimmer hires new Hoboken Parking Utility Director

by Carly Baldwin/The Jersey Journal - 9.9.09

Acting Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer announced today that she's hired a new Parking Utility Director. Ian Sacs will head the Hoboken Transportation and Parking Utility, a job for which he'll be paid $103,500 per year. Read the entire article...

33 Reasons Why Landlords Sometimes Say “No!” To Lease Renegotiations – Part One

by Andrew Zeza - 9.9.09

Lease renegotiation transactions are not absolute. They can prove profitable for both tenant and landlord when orchestrated properly. They can also fail miserably when inappropriately executed. Neither landlord or tenant are obligated to enter into a renegotiated lease, and would only do so if such a transaction made sense. Read the entire article...

Shipyard to get half mil in fed money

Thursday, September 03, 2009

HOBOKEN - Shipyard Union Dry Dock & Repair Company will receive over half a million dollars in federal funding as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), officials said yesterday. The company will get $577,902, to be used for welding, lifting and blast and coating equipment, according to a press statement from U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg. Read the entire article...

Jake Stuiver appointed to Hoboken Housing Authority Board

by Carly Baldwin/The Jersey Journal - 9.2.09

The Hoboken City Council voted 9-0 to name Jake Stuiver to the Hoboken Housing Authority tonight. His appointment process was decried by many as non-transparent and rushed. Read the entire article...